United's Angel Gomes is just too good for under-23 football
Angel Gomes was the surprise name on the teamsheet for Manchester United’s under-23s on Friday night.
Fans have been calling for Gomes to be involved in the first team, and he showed why.
It took Gomes just a few minutes to open the scoring with a fantastic individual effort.
Picking the ball up in the final third, he ghosted past two opponents before driving the ball high into the corner of the net.
Gomes was captaining the team, who took on West Ham at Old Trafford. United drew 2-2 with Largie Ramazani scoring a late equaliser.
Prospects
United really needed Gomes last weekend at Old Trafford against Palace.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was not brave enough to play him, and the same appears to be the case for tomorrow away to Southampton, hence his involvement tonight.
It was good at least for Gomes to get some gametime, and he certainly proved a point.
Under-23 football just isn’t challenging him any more. He’s too good. The 18-year-old needs to be in United’s first team, at least as a rotational player if not a weekly starter.
Whatever happens against Southampton, Gomes has earned more opportunities after this display. The calls for him to step up grow louder.
Worry
There was a concern late in the second half as Gomes received a kick to his ankle.
He received treatment on the pitch and tried to play through it, before being substituted minutes later.
Hopefully it is nothing serious and he was just taken off out of precaution.
He is part of the England under-20 squad and the injury could potentially cause him to miss out, which would not be terrible for United, so long as he makes a swift recovery.
Gomes was modest after the game, sending a message implying he can do a lot better. He made no mention of the injury.
On the plus side, James Garner, Mason Greenwood and Tahith Chong were all not involved tonight, hinting they have travelled with the first team to face Southampton.
Garner and Chong both scored last week for the under-23s in a 4-0 win over Newcastle.
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